Ladyjacks Open up NISC Regional Play Thursday Evening

Thursday, May 16

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

35-22

UT Arlington

31-26

Stephen F. Austin

UT Arlington

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Open up NISC Regional Play Thursday Evening

5/16/2019 10:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA softball to take on Middle Tennessee in back draw Friday at 12 p.m.

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

Middle Tennessee (29-29) at SFA (35-22)
Friday, May 17 | 12 p.m. | SFA Softball Field | Nacogdoches, Texas
Southland Digital Network | Live Stats

NISC Regional Bracket | NISC Nacogdoches Regional Central
Postseason NISC Tournament Central | About the Postseason NISC

Game Notes

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford went 2-for-3 at the plate and the SFA softball program lined six hits Thursday evening at SFA Softball Field in the 2019 Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) Nacogdoches Regional second game. However, it wasn't enough to stop a hot-hitting UT Arlington squad from scoring seven runs on 10 hits to advance to the NISC Regional's semifinal.

Making their third national postseason appearance since becoming a NCAA Division I program and playing in their second-straight Postseason NISC, the Ladyjacks (35-22) were unable to plate a run as the Mavericks (31-26) led following the opening inning and scored in four different frames.

"I thought we came out flat and you can't do that against a very good team in the postseason," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "UT Arlington is too good to not be at your best and give them credit, they executed well against us. We had some players do things well today but overall we were lacking in energy and determination. Tomorrow, we have to come out and play Ladyjack softball. With how much work is put into hosting a regional and all the support we've received this week, we have to play with purpose and focus."

Serving as the home team due to the 67th-best NCAA RPI in the nation, UT Arlington took a 3-0 lead in the first inning after a trio of unearned runs and never looked back. An SFA error with two outs led to the Mavericks' first score of the contest before an RBI double to right center field by catcher Reagan Wright put UT Arlington ahead 2-0. An RBI single up the middle from third baseman Brittany Wyllie made it a three-run game, before a one-out sacrifice fly to center field by Wright in the bottom of the third gave the Mavericks their fourth run.

Senior first baseman Margarita Corona and Crawford collected singles in the fourth and fifth innings but that would all the offense for the Ladyjacks. UT Arlington center fielder Laura Curry knocked in a one-out RBI single to right center field in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-0 and the Mavericks would get a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior third baseman Lauren Becker led off the sixth with a single to left field and junior second baseman/shortstop Lindsay Gregory hit a one-out single to third base, but a pair of groundouts ended any chances for SFA. A leadoff single in the bottom of the frame by UT Arlington designated player KJ Murphy preceded a two-out RBI double to left center field by pinch hitter Avery Grimes and an RBI single to left center field from shortstop Whitney Walton.

Crawford notched her second single of the night in the top of the seventh but two fly balls to left field made the game final.

Becker finished the game 1-for-2 at the dish, while freshman right-handed starter Kassidy Wilbur (20-16) went three innings inside the circle and gave up just one earned run. Junior righty reliever Ashley Kriesel tossed the final three innings without allowing a walk and striking out one.

Walton was 3-for-4 for the Mavericks with an RBI and a run scored as Curry posted a 2-for-2, one RBI performance and Wright went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run. Right-hander Randi Phillips (15-13) claimed the win on the rubber after throwing six complete innings with a pair of strikeouts and no walks.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will be vying for a spot in the Postseason NISC Nacogdoches Regional back draw final when they face Middle Tennessee (29-29) Friday at 12 p.m. With a win, SFA would face the loser of UT Arlington (31-26) versus McNeese (31-30), who play at 3 p.m. Friday, tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. for a spot in the regional championship.

Friday's game, along with all games of the 2019 Postseason NISC Nacogdoches Regional, will be streamed live online via the Southland Digital Network and through the Southland app, available on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire. Live statistics for each game of the regional tournament can be followed at SFAJacks.com.

As usual, in-game updates of the Ladyjacks' contests will be made available via SFA softball's Twitter account, @SFA_Softball.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.

-SFA-